Ruto, Sang defence say ICC acted professionally in terminating case

Ruto, Sang defence say ICC acted professionally in terminating case

Deputy President William Ruto’s defence attorney Karim Khan and Joshua Sang’s lawyer Katwa Kigen have hailed the International Criminal Court (ICC) decision to dismiss cases facing their clients.

In a press briefing on Wednesday, Kigen said he is contemplating making a new submission at the court to push for the acquittal of his client.

Kigen said that Sang is not culpable to any political interference since he holds no political office adding that the courts acquit him of all charges.

“We are still consulting on how to react on that part of the judgment. The judges made an assessment and decided that Sang has no case to answer, though they fell shy of giving him a full acquittal.”

He also expressed sympathy for post-election victims saying his client should however not suffer for crimes he did not commit.

Ruto’s lawyer Karim Khan, in his statement noted that Tuesday’s decision was a clear assertion that no court will charge Deputy President William Ruto and Joshua Sang.

He noted that all the witnesses, except on,  was cross examined to determine if they were telling the truth or lies resulting into the conclusion that most of them were lying.

“The defence’s move that the case was to be dropped was right because of the weak evidence,” said Khan.

“ICC judges made it clear that there was no evidence for the case to continue. They should consider evidence but not politics,” he said.

Khan further noted that retired prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo, who was behind investigations and the initial stages of prosecution had a case to answer for rushing to name six suspects based on haphazardly conducted investigations.

Post-election victims’ lawyer Wilfred Nderitu stated that the Trust Fund, set aside for the compensationof victims has reparation mandate and assistance mandate adding that it operates independently and should not be influenced by court rulings.

On Tuesday, Nderitu expressed optimism that Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda will appeal ICC’s no-case to answer ruling against William Ruto and Joshua Arap Sang.

The reactions are based on a decision by the ICC to dismiss cases against Ruto and Sang over political interference and witness intimidation.

In the ruling, ICC stated that: “The charges are hereby vacated and the accused are discharged from the process, without prejudice to their presumption of innocence or the prosecutor’s right to re-prosecute the case at a later time.”

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